Since raloxifene, a drug used in osteoporosis therapy, inhibits osteoclast, but not osteoblast functions, it has been suggested to improve recovery during implant surgery. The present paper describes an effective method to link raloxifene, through a covalent bond, to a nano-Hydroxyapatite-based biomaterial by interfacing with (3-aminopropylKIYiethoxysilane as assessed by Infra Red-Fourier Transformed (IR-FT) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). To evaluate the safety of this modified new material, the vitality of osteoblast-like celis cultured with the new biomaterial was then investigated. Raloxifene-conjugated HA- biomaterial has been shown to be a safe material easy to obtain which could be an interesting starting point for the use of a new functional biomaterial suitable in bone regeneration procedures.

Gagliardi C.,National Institute of Care and Research on Ageing | Spazzafumo L.,National Institute of Care and Research on Ageing | Papa R.,National Institute of Care and Research on Ageing | Marcellini F.,National Institute of Care and Research on AgeingInternational Journal of Aging and Human Development | Year: 2012

PubMed | National Institute of Care and Research on AgeingType: Comparative Study | Journal: International journal of aging & human development | Year: 2013

The present study examines the leisure style and leisure satisfaction of a sample of older people at baseline and after a period of 5 years. Three groups were identified by factorial and cluster analyses and labelled under the headings of: organised style, surrounding style and indoor style. Each group represented a different typology of leisure, according to the demand for physical and organizational commitment. Results indicated that the Organized Style group was the most active and satisfied with their leisure time, and differed from the other two by being predominantly male, younger, better educated and in good health. Follow-up analyses revealed a decline in the size of both the organised style and surrounding style groups, and an increase in the size of the less active group, suggesting that advancing very old age with deteriorating health influenced older peoples choices toward an increment of indoor activities. This pattern may be softened through the implementation of mechanisms of selection and optimisation.